Sean M. Berenholtz

Eliminating catheter-related bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit.

Objective:To determine whether a multifaceted systems intervention would eliminate catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs). Design:Prospective cohort study in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) with a concurrent control ICU. Setting:The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Patients:All patients with a central venous catheter in the ICU. Intervention:To eliminate CR-BSIs, a quality improvement team implemented five interventions: educating the staff; creating a catheter insertion cart; asking providers daily whether catheters could be removed; implementing a checklist to ensure adherence to evidence-based guidelines for preventing CR-BSIs; and empowering nurses to stop the catheter insertion procedure if a violation of the guidelines was observed. Measurement:The primary outcome variable was the rate of CR-BSIs per 1,000 catheter days from January 1, 1998, through December 31, 2002. Secondary outcome variables included adherence to evidence-based infection control guidelines during catheter insertion. Main Results:Before the intervention, we found that physicians followed infection control guidelines during 62% of the procedures. During the intervention time period, the CR-BSI rate in the study ICU decreased from 11.3/1,000 catheter days in the first quarter of 1998 to 0/1,000 catheter days in the fourth quarter of 2002. The CR-BSI rate in the control ICU was 5.7/1,000 catheter days in the first quarter of 1998 and 1.6/1,000 catheter days in the fourth quarter of 2002 (p = .56). We estimate that these interventions may have prevented 43 CR-BSIs, eight deaths, and

Sustaining reductions in catheter related bloodstream infections in Michigan intensive care units: observational study

1,945,922 in additional costs per year in the study ICU. Conclusions:Multifaceted interventions that helped to ensure adherence with evidence-based infection control guidelines nearly eliminated CR-BSIs in our surgical ICU.

Translating evidence into practice: a model for large scale knowledge translation

Objectives To evaluate the extent to which intensive care units participating in the initial Keystone ICU project sustained reductions in rates of catheter related bloodstream infections. Design Collaborative cohort study to implement and evaluate interventions to improve patients’ safety. Setting Intensive care units predominantly in Michigan, USA. Intervention Conceptual model aimed at improving clinicians’ use of five evidence based recommendations to reduce rates of catheter related bloodstream infections rates, with measurement and feedback of infection rates. During the sustainability period, intensive care unit teams were instructed to integrate this intervention into staff orientation, collect monthly data from hospital infection control staff, and report infection rates to appropriate stakeholders. Main outcome measures Quarterly rate of catheter related bloodstream infections per 1000 catheter days during the sustainability period (19-36 months after implementation of the intervention). Results Ninety (87%) of the original 103 intensive care units participated, reporting 1532 intensive care unit months of data and 300 310 catheter days during the sustainability period. The mean and median rates of catheter related bloodstream infection decreased from 7.7 and 2.7 (interquartile range 0.6-4.8) at baseline to 1.3 and 0 (0-2.4) at 16-18 months and to 1.1 and 0 (0.0-1.2) at 34-36 months post-implementation. Multilevel regression analysis showed that incidence rate ratios decreased from 0.68 (95% confidence interval 0.53 to 0.88) at 0-3 months to 0.38 (0.26 to 0.56) at 16-18 months and 0.34 (0.24-0.48) at 34-36 months post-implementation. During the sustainability period, the mean bloodstream infection rate did not significantly change from the initial 18 month post-implementation period (−1%, 95% confidence interval −9% to 7%). Conclusions The reduced rates of catheter related bloodstream infection achieved in the initial 18 month post-implementation period were sustained for an additional 18 months as participating intensive care units integrated the intervention into practice. Broad use of this intervention with achievement of similar results could substantially reduce the morbidity and costs associated with catheter related bloodstream infections.

Improving patient safety in intensive care units in Michigan.

Changes that can improve patients’ health are often difficult to get into practice, even when backed by good evidence. Peter Pronovost, Sean Berenholtz, and Dale Needham describe a collaborative model that has been shown to work

Incidents relating to the intra-hospital transfer of critically ill patients. An analysis of the reports submitted to the Australian Incident Monitoring Study in Intensive Care.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to describe the design and lessons learned from implementing a large-scale patient safety collaborative and the impact of an intervention on teamwork climate in intensive care units (ICUs) across the state of Michigan. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study used a collaborative model for improvement involving researchers from the Johns Hopkins University and Michigan Health and Hospital Association. A quality improvement team in each ICU collected and submitted baseline data and implemented quality improvement interventions. Primary outcome measures were improvements in safety culture scores using the Teamwork Climate Scale of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ); 99 ICUs provided baseline SAQ data. Baseline performance for adherence to evidence-based interventions for ventilated patients is also reported. The intervention to improve safety culture was the comprehensive unit-based safety program. The rwg statistic measures the extent to which there is a group consensus. RESULTS Overall response rate for the baseline SAQ was 72%. Statistical tests confirmed that teamwork climate scores provided a valid measure of teamwork climate consensus among caregivers in an ICU, mean rwg was 0.840 (SD = 0.07). Teamwork climate varied significantly among ICUs at baseline (F98, 5325 = 5.90, P < .001), ranging from 16% to 92% of caregivers in an ICU reporting good teamwork climate. A subset of 72 ICUs repeated the culture assessment in 2005, and a 2-tailed paired samples t test showed that teamwork climate improved from 2004 to 2005, t(71) = -2.921, P < .005. Adherence to using evidence-based interventions ranged from a mean of 25% for maintaining glucose at 110 mg/dL or less to 89% for stress ulcer prophylaxis. CONCLUSION This study describes the first statewide effort to improve patient safety in ICUs. The use of the comprehensive unit-based safety program was associated with significant improvements in safety culture. This collaborative may serve as a model to implement feasible and methodologically rigorous methods to improve and sustain patient safety on a larger scale.

Systematic Review and Analysis of Postdischarge Symptoms after Outpatient Surgery

ObjectiveTransportation of critically ill patients within the hospital poses important risks. We sought to identify causes, outcomes and contributing factors associated with intra-hospital transport.DesignCross-sectional case review.SettingIncident reports submitted to the Australian Incident Monitoring Study in Intensive Care (AIMS-ICU).Measurement and main resultsBetween 1993 and 1999, 176 reports were submitted describing 191 incidents. Seventy-five reports (39%) identified equipment problems, relating prominently to battery/power supply, transport ventilator and monitor function, access to patient elevators and intubation equipment. Hundred sixteen reports (61%) identified patient/staff management issues including poor communication, inadequate monitoring, incorrect set-up of equipment, artificial airway malpositioning and incorrect positioning of patients. Serious adverse outcomes occurred in 55 reports (31%) including major physiological derangement (15%), patient/relative dissatisfaction (7%), prolonged hospital stay (4%), physical/psychological injury (3%) and death (2%). Of 900 contributing factors identified, 46% were system-based and 54% human-based. Communication problems, inadequate protocols, in-servicing/training and equipment were prominent equipment-related incidents. Errors of problem recognition and judgement, failure to follow protocols, inadequate patient preparation, haste and inattention were common management-related incidents. Rechecking the patient and equipment, skilled assistance and prior experience were important factors limiting harm.ConclusionsIntra-hospital transport poses an important risk to ICU patients. The adequate provision of highly qualified staff, specially designed and well maintained equipment, as well as continuous monitoring are essential to avoid/mitigate these incidents. Professional societies and local units should adopt guidelines/protocols for intra-hospital transportation. Monitoring of incidents should aid in the continuous improvement in patient safety.

Rapid response systems: a systematic review.

OVER the past decade, the percentage of surgical procedures being performed in outpatient centers has increased. In response, outpatient anesthetic practice and research have focused on providing anesthetics that minimize symptoms (e.g., nausea and vomiting) in the postanesthesia care unit and hasten time to discharge. Much effort has been placed on development of newer agents with a more favorable recovery profile. Similarly, examination of the economic parameters (e.g., length of recovery room stay, cost-effectiveness of drugs) after ambulatory surgery has focused on the immediate predischarge, postoperative period. A significant portion of research in this area has concentrated on minimizing immediate postoperative symptoms to facilitate patient discharge from the hospital. On the other hand, relatively few studies have evaluated the impact of patient-reported symptoms after discharge from the postanesthesia care unit. Postdischarge symptoms (those occurring after discharge from the ambulatory surgical unit) may have an important impact on patient recovery after ambulatory surgery and the economic burden on patients and their caregivers; however, there has not been a systematic examination of postdischarge symptoms. It is important to know the frequency with which patients experience postdischarge symptoms so that providers can better inform patients and researchers can better estimate the burden of these symptoms and potential for the incidence of postdischarge symptoms to serve as a measure of quality of care. Quantification of the incidence of postdischarge symptoms would be the first step in the process in determining the extent of the problem and if perioperative interventions (e.g., intraoperative anesthetic technique, multimodal analgesia, or pharmacologic agents) would be effective in diminishing the impact of these patient-related symptoms on functional recovery and health-related quality of life. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and analysis to evaluate the incidence of patient-reported symptoms after outpatient surgery.

Framework for Patient Safety Research and Improvement

Context:Rapid response systems have been advocated as a potential model to identify and intervene in patients who are experiencing deterioration on general hospital wards. Objective:To conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of rapid response systems on hospital mortality and cardiac arrest rates. Data Source:We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from January 1, 1990, to June 30, 2005, for all studies relevant to rapid response systems. We restricted the search to the English language and by age category (all adults: ≥19 years). Study Selection:We selected observational and randomized trials of rapid response systems that provided empirical data on hospital mortality and cardiac arrest in control and intervention groups. We reviewed 10,228 abstracts and identified eight relevant studies meeting these criteria. Data Synthesis:Of the included studies, five used historical controls, one used concurrent controls, and two used a cluster-randomized design. The pooled relative risk for hospital mortality comparing rapid response teams to control was 0.76 (95% confidence interval, 0.39–1.48) between the two randomized studies and 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.73–1.04) among the five observational studies. The pooled relative risk for cardiac arrest comparing rapid response systems to control was 0.94 (95% confidence interval, 0.79–1.13) in the single randomized study and 0.70 (95% confidence interval, 0.56–0.92) in four observational studies. Conclusions:We found weak evidence that rapid response systems are associated with a reduction in hospital mortality and cardiac arrest rates, but limitations in the quality of the original studies, the wide confidence intervals, and the presence of heterogeneity limited our ability to conclude that rapid response systems are effective interventions. Large randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the efficacy of rapid response systems before they should become standard of care.

Collaborative Cohort Study of an Intervention to Reduce Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in the Intensive Care Unit

Lapses in patient safety represent a significant global problem that results in preventable morbidity, mortality, and costs of care. In the 1999 landmark report To Err Is Human , the Institute of Medicine shocked the healthcare industry with estimates that up to 98 000 people die because of medical errors each year in the United States.1 This glaring report was amplified by a 2003 RAND study that suggested that hospitalized patients in the United States on average receive only half the recommended therapies.2 The impact of these reports damaged consumer confidence in the healthcare industry and galvanized broad industry support to improve patient safety. Five years after the Institute of Medicine publication, there was increasing concern that little measurable progress had been made to improve patient safety.3–5 Since then, the number of quality- and safety-related activities has grown steadily, but there is still minimal empiric evidence demonstrating progress. Our inability to evaluate progress toward improving patient safety results from poorly articulated safety improvement goals and measures and the absence of a simple yet meaningful framework to identify and prioritize the most effective and efficient patient safety interventions. The present report presents a framework to help organize future patient safety research and improvement efforts. We sought to develop a framework for patient safety research and improvement that would address many issues emerging from an expanding international appetite for higher-quality and safer care. We acknowledge that the boundaries between safety and the broader concept of quality remain poorly defined. As we developed and revised this framework, we reflected on our experiences, revisited the Institute of Medicine’s strategies for improvement, and studied the literature on knowledge transfer and diffusion of innovation.6–14 The framework presented includes the following 5 domains (Table 1): (1) evaluating progress in patient safety; (2) translating …

Assessing and improving safety climate in a large cohort of intensive care units

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of a multifaceted intervention on compliance with evidence-based therapies and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates. DESIGN Collaborative cohort before-after study. SETTING Intensive care units (ICUs) predominantly in Michigan. INTERVENTIONS We implemented a multifaceted intervention to improve compliance with 5 evidence-based recommendations for mechanically ventilated patients and to prevent VAP. A standardized CDC definition of VAP was used and maintained at each site, and data on the number of VAPs and ventilator-days were obtained from the hospitals infection preventionists. Baseline data were reported and postimplementation data were reported for 30 months. VAP rates (in cases per 1,000 ventilator-days) were calculated as the proportion of ventilator-days per quarter in which patients received all 5 therapies in the ventilator care bundle. Two interventions to improve safety culture and communication were implemented first. RESULTS One hundred twelve ICUs reporting 3,228 ICU-months and 550,800 ventilator-days were included. The overall median VAP rate decreased from 5.5 cases (mean, 6.9 cases) per 1,000 ventilator-days at baseline to 0 cases (mean, 3.4 cases) at 16-18 months after implementation (P < .001) and 0 cases (mean, 2.4 cases) at 28-30 months after implementation (P < .001). Compared to baseline, VAP rates decreased during all observation periods, with incidence rate ratios of 0.51 (95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.64) at 16-18 months after implementation and 0.29 (95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.34) at 28-30 months after implementation. Compliance with evidence-based therapies increased from 32% at baseline to 75% at 16-18 months after implementation (P < .001) and 84% at 28-30 months after implementation (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS A multifaceted intervention was associated with an increased use of evidence-based therapies and a substantial (up to 71%) and sustained (up to 2.5 years) decrease in VAP rates.